EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Out of Hours Magic Kingdom Biomed Expats

Hi Geoff,

Yes mate I remember " it well " ha ha "

I had a Meningitus C Jab at Al-Huwaylat whilst I was Commissioning the " New Jubail " for Laings.

We had a visit from a Company Rep whose Daughter had Meningitus, ( unbeknown to him at the time ) so the MOH gave everyone on site at the time a free jab, pretty good of em I thought.

Or (perhaps better yet) a category for the most "interesting" repair carried out at a Desert hospital or clinic!

BTW, I believe I may have already mentioned the major x-ray supplier, the tiny Gulf State ... and the er, ... "yacht"!

Not me, I hasten to make clear!

I was last at HHH in December 1996, when I did a small job there. By that time it had been sold off, and was in fact already in the hands of its second private owner. Probably thriving once again by now, I should imagine (and knowing the owner concerned).

And, being built like the proverbial BSH, it will probably still be standing once the Al-Fanateer has crumbled to dust (sand?)!

BTW the G-150 was still going strong the last time I passed by (it would have been at about the same time). A nice hospital, that one (and with an "interesting" early history, of course, and as we know)! But there again, I liked all those little G-series hospitals.

@Tony

BTW(2) Mate, I was wondering if we should open a new thread to celebrate* the biomed who has worked in the highest number of UK hospitals. Not as a visiting service engineer, but let's say (to qualify) a residency of at least a month.

It would have to be your Good Self, Mate, I would have thought ... unless someone else knows different and would like to put forward a claim.

(Meanwhile my own pathetic total would amount to only eight ... so that counts me out, then)

* Good word, that. Very PC.

Good idea Geoff, celebrate the biomed who can't hold down a steady job

We're talking about agency work here, Neil. If you had spent any time in the UK biomed scene, you would have been aware that agency techs are often called in to make up the short-falls. Standing in during an absence of a regular guy. Catching up with back-logs of work, clearing the PM, filling in when Trusts cannot attract permanent staff ... there are many reasons. A few months here, a few months there. Sometimes for longer periods (especially when hospitals fail to recruit). And not all are what you might call "attractive posts", believe me!

All in all, Tony is most probably the most experienced tech I know. Anyone care to mention another?

And ... (I speak for myself here) don't forget that there are some people who don't want a so-called steady job! But prefer instead a bit of variety, if only as a stimulus. Life is too short to be stuck in one place for years on end. Horses for courses, as I keep saying.

Don't knock it, Mate. There is a need for short-term contractors within the NHS. Meanwhile, just be thankful that you're one of the lucky ones, still "out there"!

Never liked the weather, plus I did meet a few grumpy old biomeds in a couple of hospitals, never been out of their comfortable surroundings don't think they ever owned a passport. Another reason not to come back. Plus you might not let me in!

Hmmm, I really don't know why you yearn to be living 'out there' so much Geoff.

Best thing I ever did was coming back. (Horses for courses )

When I look out of the window right now, the sun is shining, the swimming pool is inviting, although today I am saving my energy as we have a fun race (only 5.7K) tomorrow, played football on Monday night legs need the rest.

You couldn't pay me enough to get me back there.

One local guy asked a mate why he was returning to the UK.

He answered "because I can....".

The quality of life there is pitiful.